Each of the primary schools had a series of creative workshops including photography, printmaking, drama and songwriting, and visits to explore and record their feelings about Anglia Square. They also had oral history workshops with BBC Voices and subsequently interviewed local community members.
The children wrote song lyrics, poems and thoughts about the area which were compiled by Charlie Caine and formed into a song. Once the lyrics were complete the children worked in groups around the piano with Charlie, to collaboratively compose the music. Each song had an individual theme and particular focus that made it specific to the feelings of the children who worked together to write it.
In Anglia Square Despair, Wensum Junior School’s Year 6s took part in a panel debate, presenting arguments for and against the preservation of Anglia Square as it is. When writing their song lyrics, they took a similar approach, presenting reflections on the good and bad points of the Square.
By Duncan Joseph
